Keyed valve box

ABSTRACT

A valve box for accessing a utility valve, the valve box having a box housing with an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface may have a plurality of fins, and the inner surface may have a plurality of keyways configured to receive a plurality of keys. The inner surface may additionally have threading. The box housing may have an access opening in some embodiments, and the valve box may include a threaded valve box cover configured to be arranged over the access opening. In some embodiments, the box housing may have a plurality of modular rings. A valve box tool may have a driving portion, a valve box engaging portion, and a stem portion. The valve box engaging portion may have a plurality of keys configured to engage the plurality of keyways. The stem portion may be configured to extend between the driving portion and a valve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/390,068, filed on Mar. 18, 2016, entitled Valve BoxTop with Tooled Features, the content of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to valve boxes for accessing utility linevalves. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to valve boxes foraccessing below-ground utility lines. More particularly, the presentdisclosure relates to a valve box against which a tool may be leveragedin order to operate a valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent it is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure.

City valve boxes, such as water, gas, sewer, or other utility valveboxes are often located on city streets, causeways, and sidewalks toprovide access to valves. Such locations provide relatively easy accessto the valve boxes for the city and provide for minimal impediment tocity residents when under maintenance or repair. In many cases, a workermay open the valve box to access a valve, such as a water, gas, or sewervalve, below the ground surface. In some cases, valves may stick andgenerally be difficult to operate due to temperature, moisture, timebetween operations, or other causes. Some valve operations may thusrequire relatively high effort and time, which may lead to long roadclosure times or other closures, and extended risk to workers on or nearroadways.

In some climates, the street surface or other surface on which the valvebox is arranged may experience shifting due to frost heave, which cancause the valve box to become exposed above the surface of the street orother surface. The exposed valve box may be hazardous and/or may becomedamaged and in need of repair due to traffic, snow plowing, or otheractivities. Repair of damaged valve boxes often includes digging up thesurrounding area, removing and replacing the valve box, and filling inaround the valve box with pavement, concrete, or other materials. Valvebox repairs may thus require relatively high effort and time, which maylead to long road closure times or other closures, and extended risk toworkers on or near roadways.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodimentsof the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding ofsuch embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of allcontemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key orcritical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any orall embodiments.

The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, relates to a valvebox for accessing a utility valve. The valve box may have a box housingconfigured for engaging a riser extending from the utility valve, thebox housing having an inner surface and an outer surface. The outersurface may have a plurality of fins arranged thereon, and the innersurface may have a plurality of keyways arranged thereon and configuredto receive a plurality of keys from a valve box tool. In someembodiments, the inner surface may additionally have threading. In someembodiments, the valve box may have at least four fins. Moreover, thevalve box may have at least four keyways in some embodiments. The boxhousing may have an access opening in some embodiments, and the valvebox may include a valve box cover configured to be arranged over theaccess opening. The valve box cover may have threading for engaging withthe valve box. In some embodiments, the valve box cover may have anoperating nut for engaging with a tool. In some embodiments, the boxhousing may have a plurality of modular rings.

The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, additionally relatesto a valve box tool for operating a utility valve accessible via a valvebox. The valve box tool may have a driving portion having a motor, avalve box engaging portion configured to engage the valve box, and astem portion configured to extend between the driving portion and theutility valve. In some embodiments, the valve box engaging portion mayhave a plurality of keys configured to engage a plurality of keywaysarranged on an inner surface of the valve box. In some embodiments, thedriving portion may have a handle for a user. In some embodiments, thevalve box tool may have four keys, and the valve box may have fourkeyways. Moreover, in some embodiments, the valve box tool may bepermanently or semi-permanently arranged within the valve box. The toolmay be operated remotely in some embodiments.

The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, additionally relatesto a method of actuating a utility valve on a utility line. The methodmay include removing a valve box cover from a valve box, the valve boxhaving a plurality of keyways arranged on an inner surface andconfigured to receive a plurality of keys of a valve box tool. Themethod may further include positioning a valve box tool having aplurality of keys arranged on an outer surface into the valve box byaligning the keys with the keyways. The method may include coupling thevalve box tool to the utility valve, and further driving the valve boxtool to actuate the valve, wherein resistant force from the valve isdirected to the valve box. In some embodiments, coupling the valve boxtool to the utility valve may include extending a stem portion of thevalve box tool through the valve box to reach the utility valve. Thestem portion may extend through a riser coupled to the valve box in someembodiments. In some embodiments, the method may additionally includemoving to a next valve box location for a next utility valve on theutility line. The valve box may have a plurality of fins arranged on anouter surface in some embodiments.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thepresent disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description, which shows and describesillustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, thevarious embodiments of the present disclosure are capable ofmodifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from thespirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawingsand detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in natureand not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as formingthe various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed thatthe invention will be better understood from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a valve box of the present disclosure arrangedwith respect to a utility valve, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a valve box of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a valve box of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a valve box of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a valve box of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a valve box of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a valve box of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional side view of a valve box of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an end of a valve box housing of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9B is an end view of a valve box housing of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a valve box housing of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a valve box of the presentdisclosure coupled to a conduit, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a detail cross sectional view of a valve box of the presentdisclosure coupled to a conduit, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a valve box cover of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a valve box cover of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a valve box cover of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 16 is an end view of a valve box cover of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 17 is an end view of a valve box cover of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a valve box cover of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 19 is an end view of a valve box cover of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of a valve box cover of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of a valve box cover of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of a valve box cover of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a valve box cover of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 24 is a side view of a valve box tool of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 25 is a side view of a valve box tool and a valve box of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 26 is a side view of a valve box tool of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an automatic valve box tool of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 28 is an end view of an automatic valve box tool of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 29 is a cross sectional view of a valve box and an automatic valvebox tool of the present disclosure, according to one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 30A is an overhead view of a valve box tool of the presentdisclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 30B is a perspective view of a valve box of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram of a method of the present disclosure,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 32 is a schematic drawing of a key portion of a valve box tool ofthe present disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a modular valve box section of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a modular valve box section of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of a modular valve box section of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 36 is perspective view of a modular valve box section of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 37 is an overhead view of a modular valve box section of thepresent disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a valve box for accessing and workinga valve, such as a water, gas, or sewer line valve or other utilityvalve. For example, the valve box may be arranged to provideabove-ground access to a below-ground utility valve. In someembodiments, a valve box of the present disclosure may lessen the burdenof valve operation by providing leverage against which the valve may berotated. For example, a valve box of the present disclosure may have aplurality of keyways arranged on an inner surface thereof and configuredto receive a plurality of keys arranged on a valve box tool. As thevalve box tool is rotated to apply torque to the valve, the keysarranged in the keyways may provide leverage for turning a resistantvalve. That is, the tool may engage the box via the keys and keyways andturn a valve opener relative to the box. Additionally, the valve box mayhave a plurality of fins arranged on an outer surface thereof andconfigured for stabilizing and/or resisting rotation of the valve boxwith respect to the ground surface.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a valve box 100 of the present disclosure isshown. The valve box 100 may be configured to couple to or generally bearranged in physical communication with a riser 120, lower valve box,conduit, piping, or other components containing or leading to a valve122, such as a water valve. The valve box 100 may be configured to bearranged such that the valve box or a portion thereof may be beneath aground surface 124, with an opening arranged at or above ground surface.The valve box 100 may provide above-ground access to a below-groundvalve 122, such as a water valve on a water line. Turning to FIG. 2, thevalve box 100 may generally include a box housing 102 having an outersurface 104, an inner surface 106, and a valve access opening 108. Oneor more fins 110 may be arranged on the exterior surface 104. The innersurface 102 may have one or more keyways 112. FIGS. 3-7 show additionalviews of the valve box 100.

The box housing 102 may be configured to provide protective access to abelow ground valve 122, such as a water line valve for example. In someembodiments, the housing 102 may be configured to be arranged at orbelow a ground surface 124, such as a paving surface, for example. Thebox housing 102 may generally have an elongated shape in someembodiments, such as a cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, the boxhousing 102 may have an elongated rectangular, triangular, or othersuitable shape. In some embodiments, the box housing 102 may generallymatch or be similar to the shape of the riser 120. The elongated boxhousing 102 may be hollow, with open ends. The box housing may have, forexample, a first end having a first opening, which may be an accessopening 108, and a second end having a second opening 116 opposing thefirst opening. The access opening 108 may be configured to be arrangedat a ground surface 124, such as at a paving surface, for example, so asto provide above-ground access to a valve 122 arranged below thesurface. The box housing 102 may have any suitable size, and maygenerally be sized to allow a tool to be inserted through the first 108and second 116 openings to reach a valve 122. In some embodiments, thebox housing 102 may have a width or diameter of between less than 3inches and approximately 36 inches. Particularly, the box housing 108may have a width or dimeter of between approximately 3 inches andapproximately 24 inches. More particularly, the box housing 102 may havea width or diameter of between approximately 5 inches and approximately12 inches in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the box housing 102may have any other suitable width or diameter. The box housing 108 mayhave a length between the two openings 108, 116 of between approximately6 inches and approximately 36 inches in some embodiments. Particularly,the box housing 102 may have a length of between approximately 12 inchesand approximately 24 inches in some embodiments. In other embodiments,the box housing 102 may have any other suitable length. The box housing108 may generally have an inner surface 106 and an outer surface 104.The outer surface 104 may be configured to be surrounded by soil,gravel, or other materials beneath a ground surface 124. The innersurface 106 may surround the hollow interior of the box housing 102. Thebox housing 102 and its components may be constructed of steel, plastic,and/or any suitable material(s).

In some embodiments, one or more fins 110 may be arranged on the outersurface 104 of the box housing 102. The one or more fins 110 may beconfigured to anchor the box housing 102 in the ground. That is, the oneor more fins 110 may be configured to mitigate rotation of the boxhousing 102 with respect to the ground surface 124. In some embodiments,the one or more fins 110 may be configured to provide leverage againstthe soil or other material surrounding the box housing 102 in order tohelp a tool rotate a valve 122, as will be described further herein. Theone or more fins 110 may generally extend between the access opening 108and second opening 116. Each fin 110 may have a generally flattened,elongated shape with a length extending between the access opening 108and second opening 116. Each of the one or more fins 110 may extendalong a portion of the length of the box housing 102 in someembodiments. In other embodiments, one or more fins 110 may extend thefull length of the box housing 102. Each fin 110 may have a widthextending outward from the outer surface 104 of the box housing 102. Theone or more fins 110 may have a width of between approximately 0.5inches and approximately 12 inches in some embodiments. Particularly,the fins 110 may have a width extending between approximately 1 inch andapproximately 6 inches. In other embodiments, the fins 110 may each haveany other suitable width. In some embodiments, as shown for example inFIG. 5, the box housing 102 may have four fins 110 arranged about theperimeter of the box housing. In other embodiments, the box housing 102may have two, three, five, six, or any other suitable number of fins 110arranged about the perimeter of the box housing. The fins 110 may beevenly spaced around the outer surface 104 of the box housing 102. Inother embodiments, the fins 110 may be discontinuous and/orintermittently or unevenly arranged. Consideration for the surroundingsoil conditions may be given when selecting a suitable number andspacing of fins 110.

In some embodiments, one or more keyways 112 may be arranged on theinner surface 106 of the box housing 102. As shown particularly in FIG.5, each keyway 112 may be a groove or cutout in the inner surface 106 ofthe box housing 102. The keyways 112 may generally be configured toreceive a tool configured to engage with the keyways, as is describedfurther herein. Each keyway 112 may have a length extending between theaccess opening 108 and the second opening 116 of the box housing 102. Insome embodiments, the one or more keyways 112 may extend the full lengthof the box housing 102, while in other embodiments, each keyways 112 mayextend a portion of the length between the two openings 108, 116. Insome embodiments, the keyways 112 may be discontinuous and/orintermittently arranged. In some embodiments, the one or more keyways112 may have a width extending across a portion of the circumference ofthe inner surface 106. The keyways 112 may be evenly or unevenly spacedaround the inner surface 106 of the box housing 102. As shown in FIG. 5,in some embodiments, the box housing 102 may have four keyways 112arranged about the inside perimeter of the box housing. In otherembodiments, the box housing 102 may have more or fewer keyways 112arranged about the inside perimeter of the box housing. For example,another embodiment of the box housing 150 is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B,wherein the box housing 150 has 10 keyways 152 evenly spaced around theinner surface 154 of the housing. FIG. 10 shows another embodiment ofthe box housing 160 where the box housing has keyways 162 having ashortened length along the inner threaded surface of the box housing.The keyways 112 may have any suitable depth cut into the inner surfaceof the box housing. FIG.

In some embodiments, the inner surface 106 of the box housing 102, or aportion thereof, may additionally have threading 118. The threading 118may allow the box housing 102 to engage with a riser, lower valve boxportion, conduit, pipe, or other component having outer threading. Thethreading 118 may additionally allow the box housing 102 to engage witha cover or cap in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the boxhousing 102 may have other attachment means for coupling to a riser,lower valve box portion, conduit, pipe, cover, cap, or othercomponent(s). It may be appreciated that the one or more keyways 112 maybe cut into the threading 118 in some embodiments. The depth of thekeyway 112 may be the same as the thread depth or the keyway depth maybe less than or greater than the thread depth. For example, FIGS. 11 and12 show a valve box 100 coupled to a conduit 126 having outer threadingconfigured to engage with the threading 118 of the box housing. In someembodiments, the box housing 102 may be configured such that a desiredminimum length of keyway 112 remains exposed above an attached conduit,riser, or other component, so as to accommodate receiving a tool of thepresent disclosure, as described further herein. For example, in someembodiments, a ridge may provide a stop to prevent the box housing 102from being threaded too far onto a riser or conduit. In otherembodiments, a user may trim or cut a length of the conduit or riser toensure that the desired minimum length of keyway 112 remains exposedabove the conduit or riser. In some embodiments, the minimum length ofkeyway 112 needed for receiving a tool of the present disclosure may bebetween approximately 1 inch and 12 inches. In other embodiments, adesired minimum length of exposed keyway 112 may be any suitable lengthcorresponding with an associated tool.

In some embodiments, the box housing 102 may be configured to couplewith different sizes or types of risers, conduits, or other components.For example, in some embodiments, the threading 118 may be sized suchthat the box housing 102 may still be slip fit over, or otherwise slidonto, a riser, conduit, or other component having a particular diameter.That is, the threading 118 may be sized so as to provide for slip fit ofthe box housing 102 with some conduits, risers, or other components. Forexample, the threading 118 may be sized such that the box housing 102may be configured to slide onto a Schedule 40 polyvinyl chloride pipe,or other standard or known pipe size. In this way, the box housing 102may be configured to couple to or operate with different risers orconduits using different attachment mechanisms. In still otherembodiments, a box housing 102 of the present disclosure may be providedwithout threading 118. In some embodiments, an internal surface of a boxhousing of the present disclosure, or a portion thereof, may have anoctagonal, heptagonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, square, triangular, orother shape configured to fit together with or grip a riser, conduit, orother component.

While in some embodiments the valve box 100, or portions thereof, maygenerally be constructed of cast iron or an otherwise generally singularcomponent, in other embodiments, the valve box may be configured to bemodular. For example, at least a portion of the valve box may beconstructed of a plurality of modular rings or sections configured tocouple together via threading, glue, fasteners, or other couplingmechanism(s). In this way, the length of the valve box may be lengthenedby adding modular sections, or shortened by removing modular sections.

FIGS. 33-37 provide views of a modular valve box section 900 of thepresent disclosure, according to some embodiments. As shown, the modularsection 900 may generally have a box housing 902 having an outer surface904 with a plurality of fins 910 arranged thereon, and an inner surface906 with a plurality of keyways 912 arranged thereon. In someembodiments, the modular section 900 may have internal threading 918.The housing 902, fins 910, keyways 912, and threading 918 may be similarto those described above with respect to the valve box 100. In someembodiments, a portion of the box housing 902 may have an indented ornarrowed portion 920 on its outer surface 904 configured to receiveanother modular section arranged over the indented or narrowed surface.Additionally, in some embodiments, the modular section 900 may have oneor more male tabs 922 and one or more female tabs 924. In someembodiments, the one or more male tabs 922 may be an extended surface ora shape in the narrowed surface 920, for example, that may be configuredto receive a corresponding female tab 924 of a next modular section.Similarly, each of the one or more female tabs 924 may be a cutoutconfigured to receive a corresponding male tab 922 of a next modularsection. The tabs 922, 924 of adjacent modular section 900 may beconfigured to interlock with one another to help align modular sections,so as to ensure that the keyways 912, fins 910, and/or threading 918align and are thus continuous for two or more modular sections.Additionally, the tabs 922, 924 may help to couple the modular sections.

Each modular section 900 may have any suitable length. For example, insome embodiments, a modular section 900 may have a length of betweenapproximately 3 inches and approximately 24 inches. In otherembodiments, each modular section 900 may have any other suitablelength. In some embodiments, different modular sections 900 may havedifferent lengths. A plurality of modular section 900 may be coupledtogether to form a complete valve box. It may be appreciated thatmodular sections 900 may be added or removed in order to lengthen orshorten the valve box, respectively, as needed. In some embodiments, anuppermost or capping modular section and/or a lowermost or base modularsection may have different features than the modular section 900. Forexample, an uppermost or capping modular section configured to bearranged nearest the ground surface may be configured without fins 910or with shortened fins in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the valve access opening 108 may have a cover orlid configured to be arranged therein. Turning now to FIG. 13, a valvebox cover 200 of the present disclosure is shown. The valve box cover200 may be configured to be arranged in or over a valve box 100 of thepresent disclosure. The valve box cover 200 may be configured to providea protective cover over the access opening 108 of the valve box 100. Thevalve box cover 200 may be removably fixed to the valve box 100, suchthat a worker may remove the cover as needed to access a valve 122.However, the valve box cover 200 may additionally be configured toremain in place with respect to the box 100 despite vehicle traffic,pedestrian traffic, rain, snow, or other surface conditions. The valvebox cover 200 may generally have a surface portion 202 and a valve boxengaging portion 204. FIGS. 14-22 show additional views of the valve boxcover 200.

The surface portion 202 may be configured to provide a cover over theaccess opening 108 of the valve box 100 when the valve box cover 200 isin place. In some embodiments, the surface portion 202 may be configuredto be visible at or above ground level, so as to help locate the valvebox 100. The surface portion 202 may have a width or diameter similar tothat of the access opening 108 of the valve box housing 102. In someembodiments, the surface portion 202 may have an operating nut 206. Theoperating nut 206 may be configured to allow a user to position thevalve box cover 200 on the valve box 100, to remove the valve box cover,or to tighten or loosen the valve box cover. For example, the operatingnut 206 may be configured to engage with a tool in some embodiments.Additionally or alternatively, the operating nut 206 may provide a handhold for a user. The operating nut 206 may be defined by one or moregrooves 208 or cutouts in the surface portion 202. For example, as shownin FIG. 13, a groove 208 may be cut into the surface portion 202 in asquare shape, defining a square-shaped operating nut 206. FIG. 23 showsanother embodiment of a valve box cover 250, wherein a pentagonaloperating nut 256 may be defined by a pentagonal groove 258 in thesurface portion 252.

The valve box engaging portion 204 may extend laterally from a side ofthe surface portion 202 opposing the side having the operating nut 206.The engaging portion 204 may be configured to engage with the valve box100. In some embodiments, the valve box engaging portion 204 may have awidth or diameter configured to be arranged within the valve box housing102. As shown in FIG. 14, the valve box engaging portion 204 may have ahollow interior. The engaging portion 204 may have threading 210arranged on an outer surface configured to engage with the threading 118on the inner surface 106 of the box housing 102. In other embodiments,the engaging portion 204 may have a different mechanism configured tocouple the cover 200 to the valve box 100.

In some embodiments, a valve box tool may be used to operate a valve 122accessible via a valve box 100 of the present disclosure. Turning now toFIG. 24, a valve box tool 300 of the present disclosure is shown. Thevalve box tool 300 may be configured to operate in conjunction with avalve box 100 to rotate a valve lever, dial, wheel, or to otherwiseoperate a valve 122. The valve box tool 300 may generally be configuredto use the valve box 100 as rotational leverage when operating a valve122. In this way, the valve box tool 300 may allow a valve 122 to beoperated, and in particular a stuck or stiff valve, while minimizingworker labor needed. The valve box tool 300 may generally have a drivingportion 302, a stem portion 304, and a valve box engaging portion 306.

The driving portion 302 may be configured to provide a driving force foroperating a valve 122 accessible via the valve box 100. For example, thedriving portion 302 may have a motor, such as a battery powered motor orother motor configured to operate on the stem portion 304. In otherembodiments, the driving portion 302 may include an air compressor orair motor or other driving force. In some embodiments, the drivingportion 302 may be configured to be operated by a user. The drivingportion 302 may provide a hand hold 314 in some embodiments for a userto hold the tool 300 while operating the tool. In some embodiments, thedriving portion 302 may be shaped similarly to an electric drill, forexample. In other embodiments, the driving portion 302 may be shaped orconfigured in any other suitable configuration.

The stem portion 304 may extend from the driving portion 302, and may beconfigured to extend through the valve box engaging portion 306 to reacha valve 122. The stem portion 304 may be configured to transfer torquefrom the driving portion 302 to the valve box engaging portion 306and/or to the valve 122 via the valve box engaging portion. In someembodiments, the stem portion 304 may have a hexagonal cross sectionalshape in order to engage a drill chuck, for example, or other shapes maybe provided. In some embodiments, the stem portion 304 may extend intoan opening in the valve box engaging portion 306, for example. In someembodiments, a second stem portion 314 may extend from the valve boxengaging portion 306 and extend to reach a valve 122 below. Rotation ofthe stem portion 304 may generally cause the second stem portion 314extending to the valve 122 to rotate. In some embodiments, this may beperformed through a series of gears contained within the valve boxengaging portion 306, as described below.

The valve box engaging portion 306 may generally be configured to bepositioned within the valve box housing 102, through the access opening108. The valve box engaging portion 306 may be configured to engage withthe valve box 100 via the keyways 112, such that the valve box may beused as leverage to help isolate a user from resistive valve forces. Inone embodiment, the valve box engaging portion 306 may slidingly engagethe valve box 100 by inserting it lengthwise through the access opening108 of the valve box. The valve box engaging portion 306 may generallyhave a surface portion 308 and a key portion 310. In some embodiments,the surface portion 308 may be configured to be arranged on or over theaccess opening 108 of the valve box 100, as shown for example in FIG.25. For example, the surface portion 308 may have a diameter or widthsimilar to or slightly larger than that of the access opening 108 insome embodiments. The key portion 310 may extend from the surfaceportion 308 and may be configured to extend into the box housing 108.The key portion 310 may be shaped and sized to fit within the boxhousing 102. For example, where the box housing 102 has a cylindricalshape, the key portion 310 may in turn have a similar cylindrical shape.The key portion 310 may have one or more keys 312 evenly or unevenlyspaced around the circumference of the key portion so as to match and/oralign with the keyways 112 in the box housing 102. Each key 312 may beconfigured to engage with a keyway 112 of the box housing 102. Byengaging with the keyways 102, the valve box engaging portion 306 of thetool 300 may be configured to generally resist rotation.

In one embodiment, the key portion 310 may comprise a gear box having aplurality of gears configured to transfer rotation of the stem portion304 to the valve 122, provide a torque multiplier, and transferresistive force of the valve to the box housing 102. FIG. 32 shows oneschematic example of a gear box that may be arranged within a keyportion 310 of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, an internalsurface of the key portion 310 may be a toothed surface 802 about whichone or more gears 804 are configured to rotate. Resistance from a valve122 may be transferred from the second stem portion 314, which may inturn be transferred via one or more gears 804 to the toothed internalsurface 802 of the key portion 310. This resistive force from the valve122 may thus be transferred to the valve box 100 as the keyways 112resist rotation of the key portion 310 caused by the resistive force. Inthis way, the valve box 100 may operate as a fulcrum. Moreover, as thefins 110 may help to resist rotation of the valve box 100 within theground, the resistive force of the valve 122 may ultimately betransferred to the ground. In this way, the geared key portion 310 mayhelp to isolate a user from the resistive force of a valve 122 or fromat least a portion of the resistive force of the valve. It may beappreciated that such force isolation and torque multiplication of thegear box may significantly reduce the amount of work and/or time neededto exercise a valve, for example. In other embodiments, other gear boxarrangements or other mechanisms may be used to transfer resistiveforces of the valve 122 to the valve box 100 and/or to the ground.Moreover, in other embodiments, other torque multipliers may be used.

FIG. 26 shows another embodiment of a valve box tool 400 of the presentdisclosure. The valve box tool 400 may have a driving portion 402providing a driving force for operating a valve 122, and additionallyproviding a hand hold 404 for a user. In some embodiments, the drivingportion 402 may be configured to be arranged on or over the valve box100, as shown in FIG. 26. A valve box engaging portion may extend fromthe driving portion 402 and into the valve box 100 in some embodiments(not shown). Further, a stem portion (not shown) may extend therefrom toreach the valve. In some embodiments, the valve box tool 400 may beconfigured to operate automatically or semi-automatically. For example,the valve box tool 400 may be configured to be positioned on a valve box100 by a user, and may be left in place over the valve box and operatedremotely until the valve operation is complete. In some embodiments, forexample, the valve box tool 400 may be programmable and may beconfigured to operate a particularly programmed sequence with respect toa valve exercising operation. A user may press a switch on the tool 400to begin the programmed sequence or may initiate the sequence remotelyin some embodiments. In some embodiments, the tool 400 or another valvebox tool of the present disclosure may have particular coloring, such assafety orange, or a standard construction, safety, or hazard signalingcoloring.

In some embodiments, a valve box tool may be an automated or partiallyautomated tool that may be configured to be permanent or semi-permanentwithin the valve box 100. For example, FIGS. 27-29 show an automaticvalve box tool 500 of the present disclosure. The automatic valve boxtool 500 may have an internal driver, such as an electric motor. Theautomatic valve box tool 500 may be configured to be arranged within avalve box 100 to automatically or partially automatically operate avalve 122. The automatic tool 500 may be shaped and sized to fit withinthe box housing 102. For example, where the box housing 102 has acylindrical shape, the tool 500 may, in turn, have a similar cylindricalshape. The tool 500 may have one or more keys 502 evenly spaced aroundits circumference. Each key 502 may be configured to engage with akeyway 112 of the box housing 102. By engaging with the keyways 112, thetool 500 may be configured to generally resist rotation, such that thevalve box 100 may be used as leverage to help operate a valve 122. Theautomatic valve box tool 500 may be permanently or semi-permanentlypositioned in the valve box and may be operated remotely in someembodiments. A particular utility, for example, may equip multiple valveboxes 100 with a tool 500, allowing valves to be worked withoutphysically visiting the valve boxes.

In some embodiments, a valve box and valve box tool may have differentlypositioned keys and keyways for engagement. For example, FIGS. 30A and30B show a valve box tool 600 and valve box 610, respectively, accordingto some embodiments. As shown, the valve box 610 may have a plurality ofkeyways 612 arranged on an upper surface of the valve box, such asaround a perimeter of the access opening 614. The valve box tool 600 mayhave a plurality of keys 602 arranged about a perimeter and configuredto align with and engage the plurality of keyways 614. In this way, keys602 may be configured to be arranged on or over the access opening 612.In other embodiments, other keyway/key configurations may be provided aswell.

In use, a valve box of the present disclosure may provide access to avalve, such as a water line valve or a valve for another utility orother line. For example, where the utility or other line is arrangedbelow ground, a valve box of the present disclosure may provideabove-ground access to the valve. A valve box tool of the presentdisclosure, or another tool, may be inserted into and/or through thevalve box to reach the valve. Additionally, a valve box of the presentdisclosure may improve valve operating procedures by providing leveragefor operating a valve. For example, where a valve lever or handle needsto be rotated in order to open or close the valve, a valve box of thepresent disclosure may provide a point of leverage for applying torqueto the valve. Particularly, as a tool is used to apply torque to thevalve lever or handle, the lever or handle may resist the turning force.Keys along a tool may align with keyways of a valve box to provideleverage for the torque. Moreover, fins arranged on an outer surface ofthe valve box may help to stabilize the valve box within the groundsurface or other surface, so as to mitigate rotation of the valve boxitself caused by the torque. This may allow for relatively easier orless labor-intensive valve operations, by generally reducing the manuallabor effort needed to operate the valve. That is, the valve box may beused as leverage, rather than an operator laboring to turn the valvemanually. A valve box cover of the present disclosure may provideprotection for a valve when not being operated.

Additionally, it may be appreciated that threading of the valve box mayallow a valve box of the present disclosure to be raised or lowered withrespect to a ground surface, by raising or lowering the valve box on ariser, conduit, pipe, or lower valve box to which the box is coupled viathe threading. Additionally, as described above, modular rings of avalve box may provide for lengthening or shortening the valve box withrelative ease. Such raising/lowering and/or shortening/lengtheningoperations may be helpful where a valve box experiences shifting due topermafrost or other conditions.

It may be appreciated that a valve box 100 of the present disclosure maybe configured to be cut or trimmed without losing functionality. Thatis, for example, the box housing 102 may be easily trimmed down ifneeded to accommodate a particular below ground spacing, while stillproviding keyway 112 engagement for a tool of the present disclosure andthreading 118 engagement for coupling to other components. Similarly, amodular valve box of the present disclosure may be shortened or extendedwithout losing functionality of the keyways 112 or threading 118, aseach modular section may be configured with the keyways and threading.This may be particularly beneficial in climate where permafrost maycause valve boxes to rise or fall with respect to a ground surface.

A method of using a valve box tool of the present disclosure withrespect to valve boxes of the present disclosure to exercise one or morevalves on a utility line is shown in FIG. 31. The method 700 may includearriving at a first valve box location 702; removing a valve box coverfrom the first valve box 704; positioning a valve box tool into thefirst valve box by aligning keys of the tool with keyways of the valvebox 706; coupling the valve box tool to a valve 708; driving the valvebox tool to operate the valve 710; removing the valve box tool from thefirst valve box and replacing the valve box cover 712; and moving to anext valve box location along the utility line 714. In otherembodiments, the method 700 may include additional and/or alternativesteps.

The first valve box may be arranged over a first valve with respect to autility line, such as a water line for example. Arriving at the firstvalve box location 702 may include, for example driving to the firstvalve box location. The first valve may be first valve on a particularutility line, where it is desired to open or close each valve along theline, for example. The first valve may be the first physical valvelocated on the line or may be any valve located along the line that isdesired to be opened or closed.

In some embodiments, the first valve box may have a valve box cover. Thevalve box cover may be removed 704 to access the valve. The valve boxcover may be removed by unscrewing the cover, where it is a threadedcover, for example. In other embodiments, the valve box cover may beremoved by loosening one or more bolts or screws, undoing one or morefasteners, or otherwise uncovering an access opening of the valve box inorder to access the first valve.

A valve box tool having one or more keys configured to engage with oneor more keyways of the first valve box may be positioned in the valvebox 706. As described above, the valve box tool may be slid into thevalve box through the access opening by aligning the keyways and keys,for example. In some embodiments, a surface portion of the valve boxtool may be arranged on, over, or through the access opening. In someembodiments, the valve box tool may be coupled to the valve 708.Coupling the valve box tool to the valve may include, for example,extending a stem portion or other portion of the tool through the valvebox to reach the first valve positioned below. The stem portion may beconfigured to engage with a bolt, lever, or other actuator of the valve.The method 700 may further include driving the valve box tool to operateor exercise the valve 710. Driving the valve box tool may includecausing a motor, such as an electric motor, to rotate the stem portion,so as to rotate the bolt, lever, or other actuator of the valve.

Once operation or exercise of the first valve is completed, the valvebox tool may be removed from the valve box in some embodiments, and thevalve box cover may be replaced over the valve box 712. Where the valvebox is a first valve box on a utility line, the method 700 mayadditionally include moving to a next valve box location 714. At thenext valve box location, steps 704 through 712 may be generally repeatedto operate or exercise the next valve.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be described hereinwith reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams ofmethods or apparatus (systems). Although a flowchart or block diagrammay illustrate a method as comprising sequential steps or a process ashaving a particular order of operations, many of the steps or operationsin the flowchart(s) or block diagram(s) illustrated herein can beperformed in parallel or concurrently, and the flowchart(s) or blockdiagram(s) should be read in the context of the various embodiments ofthe present disclosure. In addition, the order of the method steps orprocess operations illustrated in a flowchart or block diagram may berearranged for some embodiments. Similarly, a method or processillustrated in a flow chart or block diagram could have additional stepsor operations not included therein or fewer steps or operations thanthose shown. Moreover, a method step may correspond to a method, afunction, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc.

As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to thecomplete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action,characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. Forexample, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed wouldmean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completelyenclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolutecompleteness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However,generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to havegenerally the same overall result as if absolute and total completionwere obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equallyapplicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the completeor near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state,structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination,embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generallyfree of” an element may still actually contain such element as long asthere is generally no significant effect thereof.

In the foregoing description various embodiments of the presentdisclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications orvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. The variousembodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, andto enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within thescope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claimswhen interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly,legally, and equitably entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve box for accessing a utility valve, thevalve box comprising: a box housing configured for engaging a riserextending from the utility valve, the valve box having an inner surfaceand an outer surface; a plurality of fins arranged on the outer surfaceof the box housing; and a plurality of keyways arranged on the innersurface of the box housing and configured to receive a plurality of keysfrom a valve box tool.
 2. The valve box of claim 1, wherein the innersurface further comprises threading.
 3. The valve box of claim 1,wherein the plurality of fins comprises at least four fins.
 4. The valvebox of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keyways comprises at least fourkeyways.
 5. The valve box of claim 1, wherein the box housing furthercomprises an access opening, and the valve box further comprises a valvebox cover configured to be arranged over the access opening.
 6. Thevalve box of claim 5, wherein the valve box cover comprises threadingfor engaging with the valve box.
 7. The valve box of claim 5, whereinthe valve box cover comprises an operating nut for engaging with a tool.8. The valve box of claim 1, wherein the box housing comprises aplurality of modular rings.
 9. A valve box tool for operating a utilityvalve accessible via a valve box, the valve box tool comprising: adriving portion comprising a motor; a valve box engaging portionconfigured to engage the valve box; a first stem portion configured toextend between the driving portion and the valve box engaging portion;and a second stem portion configured to extend between the valve boxengaging portion and the utility valve.
 10. The valve box tool of claim9, wherein the valve box engaging portion comprises a plurality of keysconfigured to engage a plurality of keyways arranged on an inner surfaceof the valve box.
 11. The valve box tool of claim 10, wherein theplurality of keys comprises four keys and the plurality of keywayscomprises four keyways.
 12. The valve box tool of claim 9, wherein thedriving portion comprises a handle for a user.
 13. The valve box tool ofclaim 9, wherein the tool is permanently or semi-permanently arrangedwithin the valve box.
 14. The valve box tool of claim 13, wherein thevalve box tool is remotely operable.
 15. The valve box tool of claim 11,wherein the valve box engaging portion comprises a gear box.
 16. Amethod of actuating a utility valve on a utility line, the methodcomprising: removing a valve box cover from a valve box, the valve boxhaving a plurality of keyways arranged on an inner surface andconfigured to receive a plurality of keys of a valve box tool;positioning a valve box tool having a plurality of keys arranged on anouter surface into the valve box by aligning the keys with the keyways;coupling the valve box tool to the utility valve; and driving the valvebox tool to actuate the valve, wherein resistant force from the valve isdirected to the valve box.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein couplingthe valve box tool to the utility valve comprises extending a stemportion of the valve box tool through the valve box to reach the utilityvalve.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the stem portion extendsthrough a riser coupled to the valve box.
 19. The method of claim 15,further comprising moving to a next valve box location for a nextutility valve on the utility line.
 20. The method of claim 15, whereinthe valve box further comprises a plurality of fins arranged on an outersurface.